Kampermann, Ivonne; Bautze, David; Mapili, Millicent; Musyoka, Martha W.; Karanja, Edward N.; Fiaboe, Komi K.M.; Irungu, Janet and Adamtey, Noah (2024) Insecticide contamination in organic agriculture: Evidence from a long-term farming systems comparison trial. Crop Protection, 177 (106529), pp. 1-7.
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Document available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219423003514
Summary in the original language of the document
Synthetic pesticides applied in conventional agriculture to control pests tend to compromise ecosystem services, and their residues may contaminate organic agriculture. To understand the significance of this contamination, also in small-scale farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, quantitative data is required. Therefore, we compared synthetic insecticide and botanical/biopesticide residues in conventional and organic agricultural production systems after nine years of continuous cultivation of a maize-based crop rotation system at two sites in Kenya. Our results show high detectable concentrations of synthetic insecticide residues (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole) in conventional plant produce and soil. Furthermore, the organophosphate chlorpyrifos was detected at concentrations above European Union Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for plant produce, indicating potential risks for human health. Additionally, we detected imidacloprid, acetamiprid, chlorpyrifos, and chlorantraniliprole concentrations in the soil, indicating potential environmental harm. No residues of biopesticide/botanicals were detected in any of the production systems. However, we detected imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole in organic plots. The findings indicate that the MRLs can be crossed even if synthetic insecticides are applied according to or below the recommended rates on the conventional plots. Thus, synthetic insecticides potentially risk human health and the environment, while botanicals and bio-pesticides represent a safe alternative.
EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
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Keywords: | biorationals, long-term experiments, organic agriculture, pesticide residues, Abacus, FiBL6524601, SysCom Kenia |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English long-term experiments http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4f8733aa English organic agriculture http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15911 English pesticide residues http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_16154 |
Subjects: | Food systems > Food security, food quality and human health Values, standards and certification > Consumer issues Crop husbandry > Crop health, quality, protection |
Research affiliation: | Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Regions > Africa Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Field trials > Long-term experiments Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Quality assurance > Residues Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Crops > Field trials > Systems comparison Kenya |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106529 |
Related Links: | https://systems-comparison.fibl.org/ |
Deposited By: | Unternährer, Anouk |
ID Code: | 52253 |
Deposited On: | 03 Jan 2024 13:06 |
Last Modified: | 13 Mar 2025 13:36 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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